Wawel Cathedral - a Renaissance pearl of architecture
The Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and St. Wenceslas at the Wawel Castle in Krakow is a real pearl of Polish architecture! This Gothic temple dates back to the 14th century and was the coronation church of Polish monarchs. In its walls, it also hides earlier Romanesque relics. The Wawel Cathedral is an extremely valuable UNESCO building.
Sigismund Chapel
The Wawel Cathedral hides the most perfect Renaissance work not only in Poland, but throughout Europe. This is the Sigismund Chapel, which definitely stands out in the outer shape of the temple with its golden dome. Also called the Royal, Rorantist or Jagiellonian, it is an example of Florentine Renaissance architecture outside Italy. It is one of the 19 chapels in the Wawel Cathedral. It was created as a mausoleum of the family of King Sigismund I the Old.
Reliquary of St. Stanislaus
In the central part of the Wawel cathedral there is a silver coffin in which the remains of St. Stanislaus - the patron saint of Poland, who is surrounded by worship, rest. This reliquary is one of the most outstanding Polish works of the early Baroque.
The dark, history-drenched interior of the temple is surrounded by a wreath of chapels, and in each you can see historic works of art, tombstones or royal sarcophagi. The oldest of them is the sarcophagus of Władysław Łokietek from the 14th century.
Royal Tombs
In the basement of the Krakow Cathedral there are the Royal Tombs – the resting place of not only Polish monarchs, but also princes, national heroes or poets. The Presidential Couple, who died in the Smolensk catastrophe in 2010, is also buried here.
Pope John Paul II
Karol Wojtyła was closely associated with the Wawel Cathedral throughout his life! Here in 1946 he celebrated his first Holy Mass, here he was consecrated a bishop, and when he was already Pope he came to the temple as many as seven times, the last time in 2002. On April 2, 2005, the bell "Sigismund" spoke in the cathedral, announcing the death of the Polish Pope! Commemorating the proximity of the Pope to this place, in 2008 a magnificent statue of John Paul II stood in front of the Cathedral.
Visiting the Wawel Cathedral
The entire Cathedral, along with the Royal Tombs and the Sigismund Tower with Sigismund's bell, as well as the Cathedral Museum are open to tourists. It's almost always crowded here. The Cathedral and Museum must be purchased a ticket (common), opposite the cathedral at a different ticket office than the other exhibitions at Wawel.
Accommodation
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Practical information
Current visiting hours and ticket prices can be found at: https://www.katedra-wawelska.pl/ The
Cathedral Museum is closed on Sundays
Tickets: normal PLN 22, reduced PLN 15
The ticket allows you to visit the Cathedral, Sigismund's Bell, Royal Tombs and the Cathedral Museum
Archcathedral of St. Stanislaus BM and St. Wenceslas and the Wawel Cathedral Museum,
Krakow
tel. 12/ 429-33-27
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What's worth seeing in the area?
If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.
- Kazimierz in Kraków, distance: 0.9 km
- Wieliczka Salt Mine, distance: 11.7 km
- Ojców National Park, distance: 17.6 km
- Krakowskie valleys, distance: 19.1 km
- Błędowska Desert, distance: 42.4 km
- Gródek Park in Jaworzno, distance: 48 km
- Eagle's Nest Trail, distance: 52 km
- Castle in Żywiec, distance: 66.6 km
- Kapias Gardens in Goczałkowice Zdrój, distance: 71.4 km
- Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry, distance: 87.6 km
